"We're more equipped now to compete in this league than at any time since we joined it," Whittingham said after a 51-27 loss that was much closer than the scoreline suggests.

The Utes might be undefeated without nose dives in the final moments of three Pac-12 games, and the latest AP poll reflects that. Besides No. 25 Utah, only No. 20 LSU has three losses.

Then again, they might also have four to six losses had they not finished well against No. 14 UCLA, USC and Oregon State.

What's done is done.

On the subject of what is, and not what might have been: Utah racked up 440 total yards against the Ducks, its most this season in a conference game, and offensive coordinator Dave Christensen answered critics' calls to open up the passing game and increase the tempo.

Whittingham acknowledged after the game that there was a conscious decision to use more two-back sets and to take more shots downfield.

"Very good to see us throw the ball a lot better," Whittingham said. "We had over 300 yards throwing, and that was very encouraging."

It's hardly a positive to lose Thompson, who was dynamic on Utah's opening drive, but Travis Wilson no longer has to live in fear that he could be pulled at a moment's notice.

He wasn't bad, either. Wilson's 297 passing yards Saturday night marked just the second time this year he passed the 200-yard mark.

Yes, his streak of attempts without an interception ended at an FBS-best 181, but his two deep balls to Clay were artful, and he was aware enough to find junior Devontae Booker out of the backfield for 110 yards and a score.

With Clay, Phillips, Booker punter Tom Hackett and defensive end Nate Orchard continuing to rank among the nation's leaders in their relevant categories, and Kalani Sitake's defense continuing to befuddle future NFL quarterbacks for whole quarters and halves at a time, the bright spots are myriad.

The Utes will head to Palo Alto to face a Stanford team that has only been beaten by ranked teams, and features the nation's fourth-best scoring defense.

A Pac-12 South title is no longer on the line.

But Utah is playing for a worthy consolation prize: respect.

mpiper@sltrib.com

Twitter: @matthew_piper

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Ute fans cheer on their team before that Utah vs. Oregon game, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, November 8, 2014

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes wide receiver Kaelin Clay (8) runs for the end zone on a long pass play, but dropped the ball before he reached the end zone, resulting in an a 99-yard Oregon touchdown, in PAC-12 action, Utah vs. Oregon game, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, November 8, 2014

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes wide receiver Kaelin Clay (8) runs for the end zone on a long pass play, but dropped the ball before he reached the end zone, resulting in an a 99-yard Oregon touchdown, in PAC-12 action, Utah vs. Oregon game, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, November 8, 2014

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes wide receiver Kaelin Clay (8) runs for the end zone on a long pass play, but dropped the ball before he reached the end zone, resulting in an a 99-yard Oregon touchdown, in PAC-12 action, Utah vs. Oregon game, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, November 8, 2014

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes wide receiver Kaelin Clay (8) celebrates what appeared to be a touchdown, but he dropped the ball before he reached the end zone, resulting in an a 99-yard Oregon touchdown, in PAC-12 action, Utah vs. Oregon game, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, November 8, 2014

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes wide receiver Kaelin Clay (8) runs for the end zone on a long pass play, but dropped the ball before he reached the end zone, resulting in an a 99-yard Oregon touchdown, in PAC-12 action, Utah vs. Oregon game, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, November 8, 2014

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes wide receiver Kaelin Clay (8) celebrates what appeared to be a touchdown, but he dropped the ball before he reached the end zone, resulting in an a 99-yard Oregon touchdown, in PAC-12 action, Utah vs. Oregon game, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, November 8, 2014

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Ute running back Devontae Booker (23) slips out of the hands of Oregon Ducks linebacker Tyson Coleman (33) as he runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown, in Pac-12 football action, Utah vs. Oregon game, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, November 8, 2014

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Ute running back Devontae Booker (23) slips out of the hands of Oregon Ducks linebacker Tyson Coleman (33) as he runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown, in Pac-12 football action, Utah vs. Oregon game, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, November 8, 2014

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes wide receiver Tim Patrick (9) tries to rally his team as he is taken off the field, after being injured in the 3rd quarter, in PAC-12 action, Utah vs. Oregon game, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, November 8, 2014